Unity Opto to focus on products as LED market thrives

By Helen Ku / Staff reporter

Sat, Jan 26, 2013 - Page 13

LED chipmaker Unity Opto Technology Co (東貝光電) yesterday forecast that its revenue would grow between 30 percent and 40 percent this year to a record high of NT$10 billion (US$342.86 million), driven by strong global demand for LED-backlit LCD TVs and lighting products.

This quarter, the firm’s sales are forecast to grow by more than 60 percent compared with NT$1.06 billion in the same period of last year, the firm’s chairman Wu Ching-huei (吳慶輝) said on Thursday.

“It is likely we will see new lines of large-screen LCD TVs hitting the market soon,” Wu said by telephone yesterday.

LED lighting products are expected to be another growth driver as sales could double this quarter,Wu said.

LED chips for LED lighting accounted for 30 percent of the company’s total sales, he said.

Unity Opto has received NT$1 billion of orders from clients in the US, Europe, China and Japan, Wu said.

The company plans to ship up to eight million units of 8W ultralight LED bulbs this year, he said.

Regarding new products, Wu said the company is scheduled to ship its first batch of LED street lamps to Europe next month.

Shipments of tailor-made LED lighting are expected to be 1 million units, he said.

To meet strong global demand, the firm is renting a new 9,930m2 plant in New Taipei City’s (新北市) Xinzhuang District (新莊) and plans to begin production at after the Lunar New Year holiday, Wu said.

“Unity Opto will focus more on product development and design in the future because we believe that though expanding sales channels are important for LED firms to succeed in the competitive LED lighting market, lowering manufacturing cost and upgrading product design are also crucial for the firm grow,” Wu said, adding that the company will expand its product portfolio by developing customized products to meet clients’ diverse needs.

Last year, sales of LED-backlit products accounted for about 70 percent of the company’s total sales, while illumination-application products accounted for 20 percent and other automotive lighting products accounted for 10 percent.

Among all its LED-backlit products, backlit LCD TVs accounted for about 45 percent, while notebook and tablets together accounted for 18 percent and smartphones and monitors together accounted for 37 percent.